Dirty Bastard
Founders Brewing Company

Dirty BastardDirty Bastard
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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #27
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,191
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 10.62%
Reviews:
2,127
Ratings:
8,204
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 06:42 PM
Added:
Jan 03, 2003
Wants:
  373
Gots:
  2,454
So good it’s almost wrong. Dark ruby in color and brewed with seven varieties of imported malts. Complex in finish, with hints of smoke and peat, paired with a malty richness and a right hook of hop power to give it the bad attitude that a beer named Dirty Bastard has to live up to. Ain’t for the wee lads. Brewed with 7 varieties of malt (varies over the years).

50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bwan15:
Photo of bwan15
Reviewed by bwan15 from New York

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Dirty, murky, rust-brown. Head is light and playful, settles for but a few moments on this pretty bastard before all but disappearing.

Smell: Initially barely there, but as it warms, reveals a sweet and inviting character that's got me thinking bread and honey.

Taste: Sweet, grassy, and bitter. There is a bit of a metallic aftertaste. The balance between sweet and bitter is a tenuous one at first, but as it warms the sweetness wins out, and the metallic bitterness fades into a something powdery and pleasant.

Mouthfeel: A great mouthfeel. Full and balanced.

Drinkability: A delightful ale. The hoppy bitterness is a bit unruly, but then again, so are the crazy Scots who originated this style. Two or three of these bad boys and I'd be ready to throw on a kilt, paint half my face blue, and charge those bloody English arseholes with everything I've got. CALEDONIAAA!!!
Dec 04, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of ManicMadgod
Reviewed by ManicMadgod from Connecticut

4.27/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I'm a sucker for ruby red beers, and this wee fellow does not disappoint. Great pour, great lacing.

Robust flavor profile, with beautiful caramel maltiness and some underlying fruitiness that makes way for a balanced bitter finish.

One of the more satisfying beers I've tried in a while and an excellent member of the Founders roster. Would definitely have again.
Yesterday at 06:42 PM
 
Rated: 5 by Zachboyd3334 from Indiana

Friday at 07:34 PM
 
 
Rated: 3.99 by Cole3515 from Tennessee

Nov 29, 2023
Photo of MrPhantasia
Reviewed by MrPhantasia

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Affordable despite the excellent taste and high ABV. An excellent full-bodied experience. Pleasantly bitter with an excellent easily drinkable mouthfeel.
Nov 25, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle filled 6/14/23 into a 12 oz goblet.
L: SRM 25 Pours an earthy dark ruby & brown with a thin smooth light tan head that has a slight orange hue, low steady fine carbonation bubbles, head recedes to thick edge foam, random sticky lacing.
S: Rich caramel malts, pecan, bourbon barrel notes, dates, raisins, a hint of brown bread, molasses, lightly sweet smelling.
T: Lightly nutty barrel notes, fairly sweet caramel malts, dried fruits, dark fruits, late-arriving citrus zest, light cocoa, peat, brown bread crust. Has a long lingering spicy & zesty finish.
F: Soft, easy-going medium to medium-heavy feel that is wet and dynamic. Has a long drying finish and becomes smoother overall with warming.
O: Very easy drinking Scotch Ale. Has sort of a mulled halo with sweeping barrel notes that are lovely and are not overpowering. Incredibly balanced tastes and a beautiful bouquet. Not overly complex. It is outstanding in its style.
Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
Photo of JozyMozy
Reviewed by JozyMozy from Tennessee

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Absolutely gorgeous pour, dark red with a couple of fingers of a light caramel head.

Aroma is a little peat-y, slightly sweet, a hint of alcohol at the end.

Taste is malty sweet to begin, but finishes with a pleasant bitterness.

Mouthfeel is smooth, good carbonation.

Overall this is a very smooth, interesting beer, but at a very sneaky 8.5 ABV, maybe one that I should enjoy with more moderation than most.
Oct 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.63 by BLVBBERGIXLL from Arizona

Oct 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.07 by averageninjaface from Alaska

Oct 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by 1mrbeer from Ohio

Sep 28, 2023
Photo of nasal
Reviewed by nasal from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not as sweet as Robert the Bruce. This is much more hop-forward and less malty and sweet. It's so hoppy that it's dry. When it warms, a subtle funky peaty smoky flavor comes out. Nothing like Speculoos cookies and Boston brown bread. It's more like scotch. Really special and complex beer. I'd pick Robert the Bruce as a cheerful treat on a holiday, and Dirty Bastard for a contemplative and quiet winter night alone. It's one to savor.
Sep 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by rfreed from Washington

Sep 04, 2023
Photo of tyden46
Rated by tyden46

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Strong dark fruit flavors with roasted bitterness.
Aug 20, 2023
Photo of calvin_os
Rated by calvin_os from Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Interesting flavor, but I might be a wee lad. Wonder how this'd pair with a glass of Scotch whisky; I think it'd go well, probably.
Aug 10, 2023
Photo of frogfarmer38
Reviewed by frogfarmer38 from West Virginia

2.93/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
real thick hazy caramel color with some stained fizz, head all plump like a biscuit. it doesn't smell like much to me right now, but my nose is a tad stuffy. tastes like... the left side of a boot sole? you can really see what they mean by Dirty Bastard, it's heavy and strong and it hits you hard with those delayed hops but i dunno... founders historically hasnt done a lot for me and i cant say that the dirty bastard changed my mind. reminds me of a post christmas december evening, right when its really starting to snow and you get home from work after dark and youre a little glum from the holiday season being over, and then you notice that the wet snow has soaked into your parka. i would say that Wet Snow in Clothes is the best descriptor for this one (not entirely bad)
Jul 24, 2023
Photo of kotocar
Reviewed by kotocar from California

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I’m reviewing this for the style of dark thick string beer which this is. It’s resinous and sticky and thick and taste like caramel raisins. If I wanted to sip a darker thick boy of a beer slowly this is great.

I usually like to throw back beers though so I probably won’t be drinking this one too often. But it’s a great beer I’d have at a restaurant if I only wanted to order one. This would pair well with a juicy steak.
Jul 16, 2023
Photo of cwm51662
Reviewed by cwm51662 from Indiana

3.79/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Early rating was a bit rough. A much better beer non-refrigerated. I do get some of the peat-y taste, more of the alcohol at the bottom. Refriged, it had like zero smell or body. I'm enjoying it much better, getting more of the taste, at room temp.
Jul 08, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the brewery.

Appearance: Medium dark brown, very small light tan head that lingered, leaving some lacing.

Nose: A little peat, a bit of cooked sugar sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium heavy, adequate carbonation.

Attack: Toasted malt, light sweetness.

Finish: Balancing bitterness.

Overall: A very good Scotch Ale. Doesn’t have quite the bang of the barrel-aged Backwoods, but solid.
Jul 04, 2023
Dirty Bastard from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 8204 ratings